Nova Patents
US7121464B2

Automated projectile delivery system

Summary by NHIP

Multi-weapon synchronized firing system

The system coordinates multiple independently aimed weapons to strike a target in a specified sequence using computed firing times. It relies on GPS transceivers for weapon and target positioning, a control unit for distance and time-in-flight calculations, and communication means including radio frequency transmitters or optical cables.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 1, the broadest

Abstract

A system for precisely timing the firing of two or more weapons in order to create a desired arrival timing of two or more projectiles on a target. Global Positioning System (“GPS”) transceivers are used to determine the position of each weapon and report that position to a command post. Heading-to-target and ranging information is also preferably transmitted so that the command post is able to accurately fix the position of the target, and the range of each weapon to the target. Computations are then performed in order to determine the firing sequence needed to achieve a desired arrival of two or more projectiles on the target. Firing of the weapons is then performed automatically in order to properly execute the computed firing sequence. Interactive command and control data is fed back and forth between the weapons and the command post.

US7121464B2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 12

Term

Term ended

Expired 19 March 2025, 1.5 years ago.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Granted
  3. Expired
  4. Today

22 claims: 2 independent, 20 dependent

  1. 1
    Broadest claimClaim Score 47, average(NHIP)A weapon firing system for firing a plurality of independently aimed weapons in a firing sequence in order to cause a plurality of projectiles fired by said plurality of independently aimed weapons to strike at least one target in a specified striking sequence, comprising:a. a plurality of weapons, each having i. a remotely operable firing mechanism,ii. weapon locating means, capable of accurately determining a position for said weapon,iii. communication means, capable of transmitting data regarding said position of said weapon, and capable of receiving commands sent to said weapon;b. target locating means, capable of accurately determining a position for said at least one target;c. a control unit having i. communication means, capable of receiving said data regarding said position of each of said weapons from said plurality of weapons and capable of transmitting weapon-specific fire commands to said plurality of weapons,ii. computation means, capable of computing a distance from each of said weapons to a target of said at least one target designated for each of said weapons,a time-in-flight for each of said plurality of projectiles, andsaid firing sequence for said plurality of weapons which will result in said specified striking sequence.
  2. 13
    A weapon firing system for firing a plurality of independently aimed weapons in a firing sequence in order to cause a plurality of projectiles fired by said plurality of independently aimed weapons to strike at least one target in a specified striking sequence, comprising:a. a plurality of weapons, each having i. a remotely operable firing mechanism,ii. weapon locating means, capable of accurately determining a position for said weapon,iii. a rangefinder, capable of accurately determining a range from said weapon to a designated target of said at least one target,iv. communication means, capable of transmitting data regarding said position of said weapon and said range from said weapon to said designated target, and capable of receiving commands sent to said weapon;b. a control unit having i. communication means, capable of receiving said data regarding said position of each of said weapons from said plurality of weapons and said data regarding said range to said designated target, wherein said communication means is capable of transmitting weapon-specific fire commands to said plurality of weapons,ii. computation means, capable of computing a time-in-flight for each of said plurality of projectiles, andsaid firing sequence for said plurality of weapons which will result in said specified striking sequence.
Independent claims2